Convertible chair.



W. W. LEPARD.

OONVEBTIBLE CHAIR.

ArrLIoATIoN FILED 001217, 1907.

907,253. Patented Dee.22,19o8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mlmvik' wif" son W W. LEPARD.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

APPLIoA'rIon FILED 00T. 17, 1907.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Mmmm

MIN

WARREN WARD LEPARD, OF OTSEGO, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed October 17, 1907. Serial No. 397,807.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN WARD LE- PARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the village of Otsego, county of Allegan, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in convertible chairs. f

The main objects of this invention are: rst, to provide an improved convertible chair which may be readily adjusted or converted into a high chair or a rocking chair, as desired;` and second, to provide an improved convertible chair having an adjustable foot rest which is automatically extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as arocking chair.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described inthe following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention'is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of; this specification,inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention adjusted as a rocking chair;` Fig. 2 is adetail front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on a line corresponding to line 38 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevation partially in vertical section of my improved chair adjusted as a high chair; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing the latch or locking mechanism for maintainin the parts when adjusted as a high chair.

n the drawings the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines, and similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.`

Referring to the drawing, the seat is of the usual or any desired form and is preferably provided with a back as 2 and w1th arms?) similar to the ordinary childs high chair or rocking chair. The short front legs 4 are rigidly secured to the seat. The short rear legs 5 are pivotally secured to the seat, the seat being preferably provided with a cross piece 6 to which the leg pivots 7 are secured. lhe rockers are each formed of two members, 8 and 9, the same being similarly shaped and arranged side by side so that the structure has the appearance of having single rockers when adjusted as a rocking chair. These rocker members are pivotally secured to each other by the pivot rod 10 which preferably extends across the chair serving to brace the same. The outer rocker members 8 are preferably longer than the inner members 9, the same extending rearwardly beyond the same, as clearly appears from the drawing, the outer members being connected by a cross rod 11 arranged at the rear end of theinner rocker members. The forward ends of the outer rocker members are connected by pivots as 12 to the lower ends of the front legs. The rear ends of the inner rocker members 9 are connected as by the pivot rod 13 to the lower ends of the rear legs 5, as clearly appears from the drawing, so that when the chair is adjusted as a hlgh chair the ends of the rocker members are swung up to form extensions for legs, 'as clearly appears in Fig. 4.

The foot rest 14 is mounted by the pivots 15 on the front legs so as to fold inwardly between the same when collapsed and outwardly into operativeV ,position when extended, see Figs. 3 and 4. The foot rest is connected by the link 16 to the rear legs 5 the link being pivotally connected to the foot rest and to the legs, so that when the legs are swung inwardly, as is the case when the chair is adjusted as a high chair, the foot rest is swung out into its extended position, and when the legs are swung rearwardly, as is the case when the chair 1s adjusted as a rocking chair, (see Fig. 3), the foot rest is thrown inwardly by the link.

The parts are locked in their erected position by means of the latch 17 which is preferably hung on the under side of the seat so as to engage over a cross piece 18 connecting the links 16 when the parts are adjusted as a hi h chair. This effectively prevents their co lapsing by preventing the raising of the links 16 until the latch is disengaged, the latch thus coaoting with the links to form a lock for the parts. The latch 17 is preferably provided with a shoulder or stop 22 adapted to serve as a support for the foot cross piece 6 on the under side of the seatV and is provided with a finger iece or button 20 on its rear end adapted to e manipulated from the rear of the chair. When it is desired to collapse the chair or adjust it as a F rocking chair, this push rod is pushed inwardly, thereby releasing the latch 17 and allowing the parts to close down into the position shown in Fig. 3. This automatically turns the foot rest inward, as is illustrated in that figure.

' lvl/hen it is desired to erect the chair, it is only necessary to lift upwardly on the seat, the operator ordinarily stepping on the cross piece 11 for the outer rocker members when "i the catch 17 will automatically engage the cross piece 18, locking it in position, a spring 21 being provided for applying tension to the catch.

The hinge members 23 for securing the front legs to the rocker members 8 are preferably formed 'integral with the braces 24, thereby reducing the number of parts and forming a very rigid construction.

The front legs are adapted to rest upon the rocker members 9 when the chair is adjusted as a rocking chair, thereby keeping the rocker members in alinement and preventing movement of the parts on each other.

rlhe structure is very simple and at the same time strong and rigid and may be, and isv obviously, quickly converted from a high chair to a rocking chair, or vice versa.

. l have illustrated and described my improved convertible chair in detail in the form preferred by me on account of structural simplicity. I am, however, aware that it is capable of considerable variation in structural details without departing from my invention and l desire to be understood as claiming the same specifically, as illustrated, as well as broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ln a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers, each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other, a member of each rocker being pivoted at its forward end to the lower end of one of the front legs; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so tlat the rear ends of said rocker members may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair to form extensions for the said rear legs; a foot rest pivotally mounted on the said front legs; a link pivoted thereto and to the said rear legs whereby the said foot rest is extended when the whereby the said parts are locked in position;

a push rod for disengaging said catch; and a spring on said push rod whereby said catch is automatically engaged.

2. ln a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers, each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other, a member of each rocker being pivoted at its forward end to the lower end of one of the front legs; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends of said rocker members may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair to form eX- tensions for the said rear legs; a foot rest fpivotally mountedon the said front legs; a link pivoted thereto and to the said rear legs whereby the said foot rest is extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as a rocking chair; and a catch adapted to engage said link when the chair is erected as a high chair, whereby the said parts are locked in posit-ion.

3. ln a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers, each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other, a member of each rocker being pivoted at its forward end to the lower end of one of the front legs; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends of said rocker members may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair to form extensions for the said rear legs; a foot rest pivotally mounted on the said front legs; and a link pivoted thereto and; to the said rear legs whereby the said foot rest is extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as a rocking chair.

4. ln a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers, each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other, a member of each rocker being pivoted at its forward end to the lower end of one of the front legs; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends of said rocker members may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair to form eXtens'ons for said rear legs; a foot rest pivotally mounted on the said front legs and connections therefor to the said rear legs whereby the i said foot rest is extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as a rocking chair.

5. In a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid liront legs therefor; rockers7 each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other, a member of each roclrer being pivoted at its forward end to the lower end ol one of the front legs; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends of said rocker members may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair to form extensions for the said rear legs; an adjustably mounted foot rest; and connections therefor to the said rear legs whereby the said foot rest is extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as a rocking chair.

6. In a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; legs therefor the rear pair o1 legs being pivoted; rocker members adapted to serve as extensions for said legs when said chair is adjusted as a high chair and as rochers when said chair is adjusted as a rocking chair; an adjustably mounted Jfoot rest and connections therefor to the said pivoted rear legs, whereby said foot rest is automatically extended when the chair is adjusted as a high chair and collapsed when the same is adjusted as a rocking chair.

7. In a convertible chair7 the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers, each formed or' two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other; braces for said front legs secured at one end to said seat and to said legs, said braces being extended into hinge members,

to which a member of each of said rockers is pivoted at its forward end; rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends may be swung up when the chair is adjusted as a high chair toform extensions for the said rear legs; and said Jfront legs being arranged to rest on the rocker members pivoted to the rear legs when the chair is adjusted as a rocking chair.

8. In a convertible chair, the combination of a seat; rigid front legs therefor; rockers7 each formed of two pieces or members arranged side by side and pivotally connected to each other; braces for said front legs secured at one end to said seat and to said legs7 said braces being extended into hinge members, to which a member of each of said rockers is pivoted at its forward end; and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat and to the other rocker members so that the rear ends may be swung up when the chair is arranged as a high chair to form extensions for the said rear legs. l t

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WARREN WARD LEPARD. [a s] Witnesses:

G. E. DE LAND, ELLswoRTH ELDRED. 

